Daily Republican., 1887-03-22

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From the America.
Al an informal evening session Of
the Legislature at Harrisburg, on
Wednesday, the Legislators and their
wives were being addressed by Mics
Hindman, and a. she was closing, she
said that but one member of the Leg
islature,' In stating his opposition to
the amendment, submitting the ques-
ton of female suffrage TO vote OF the
people, had said he would not support
1t "because the women were not fit TO
VOTE" After crltIclsing this rough
way OF pointing q conclusion she was
shout to sit down, and introduce Miss
Rachel G. Foster.
Hon. John B Robinson quickly rose
and said he desired to make both q
conf ession and an explanation. He
then admitted that he was the one
who had said women were not fit to
VOTE" and explained that he did not
mean 1t in an offensive way, but de-.
sired TO emphasize his belief that from
lack of political education women
were not fit to vote. What they
ought To do, instead of coming here
and pleading for suffrage, was to at
tend to affairs within their sphere.
There was one great problem within
their sphere-the Female Servant
Problcm-and he asked the Female
Suffrage Association TO first give their
attention to that,
"In your evident boast of superior
political education" remarked Miss
Hindman, why don't you settle the
Labor Problem as among men?"
Laughter and cheers And If you
cannot settle that, and woman is the
weaker, why do you not turn your at
tention TO the Female Labor Problem
YOURSELF" [Continued laughter. ]
Here Miss Rachel Foster was intro
duced, and our own dear Jack, deter
mined not to be beaten by all of the
Association Ia committee of whom
were interested spectators) almost i'm.
mediately interrupted her by asking
that she state what political education
women had ever had.
"What political education has dis
franchised class ever had2" retorted
the fair speaker. ''Has any nation, in
comforting suffrage to DISTINGUISHED
class or people ever required politi.
cal education in advance?" Applause.
Did England requiresit in extending
her suffragef Did the United States
when it gave suffrage to the negro, and
in this way promoted the election OF
the distinguished member from Della
ware? [Roars OF laughter and the
clapping OF male and female hands.
"You are begging the question, y
shouted the courageous Jack. admit
you are as bright a woman as am 9
man." Here Miss Foster thanked
him for the high compliment with
such courteous yet humble bow tina
1t brought down the house. Even tn,
dome reverberated the laughter, ant
1t ran in ripples around the hands o
the clock outside, until 1t died away il
music as soft as the ''mark time" of ,
distant company of soldiers.
Let me ask you political ques
tionr' persisted Jack, blushing betor
the superior courtesy of the lady
"Can you name the thirteen origina
States9" IA moments silence il
which Jack looked in triumph over tn
entire house.
"That is but trick question:" final
| ly answered Miss Foster--a question
OF memory-why not ask me to nam
the thirty eight existing States?"
| Up rose Miss Virginia G Piper
head of one of the great schools i
Philadelphia. She said with suppress
ed modesiy.
MIR. Robinson, can answer tina
question; so can every pupil in m
school, and If that is your qualification
for suffrage why, my pupils shout
vote?" Great amusement and cheer
with cries OF Bob Chadwick and othe
friends, don't hit him so hard!'1
Jack stood at his desk, drawing hi
neck further down beneath his should
ers, as though to prepare for an int
lectual spring. Turning again to Mis-
Foster he shouted defiantly.
'Can you solve the Female Servar
. Problem2 Many families in my ow
town OF Media have to abandon happ
homes and take board because OF tn
discomfort OF servant girls"
1--WE have already solved it for gu
; selves" answered Miss Foster. MAN
: of the ladies OF our association lea,
happy homes to labor for suffrage, {
now, and leave those homes in charl
of servants in perfect safety. Instes
of political knowledge, probably yC
,, had better try to acquire the know
edge which can do this, and impart
! to the good wives of Media? [Su
. pressed merriment'
. NO." shouted Jack, 81 have oil
other argument against womau's 81
fIage, which never has been NETT
that of the bullet and the ballot whe
J. only those should vote who can d
= fend their government. Answer tn
{ if you please2" Here genero
/, round of applause greeted Jack, al
. he looked more cheerful.
II will answer" said Miss Foste
"In barbaric ages, when brute for
ruled, the strongest man was chic
and all the weaker men were deprive
of any share in the government. FL
lowing brute strength Was the coat
mail. Following that, in this lair Ian
freedom OF suffrage to all males, wit
: cut inquiry as to the political educ
A ton, SO priced by Mr. Robinson Nj
u past the fighting age vote-rheumati
le equity, the lame, the halt, the bin
n vote. The newer forms of civilizatit
!. and discovery have equalized Il
the power of the sexes even in time